Automatic car-coupling.



MORRIS 'WUERPEL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI,

AIR & STEAM COUPLER COMPANY, OF

ILLINOIS.

ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE AUTOMATIC ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION0]? AUTOMATIC CAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

Application filed October 16,1907. Serial No. 397,601.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I Mortars WUERPEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Automatic Car-(ouplers, of which the following isa specification.

The invention relates to automatic car couplers, and more particularlyto certain improvements on the car coupler shown in my prior pending aplication, Serial No. 368,694, filed April 1?, 1007.

The car coupler therein described is of the type known as radial drawbar coupler, and com rises a coupler head having a recess or cham ercontaining a pivotally mounted knuckle. The knuckle is provided with anoffset locking face adapted to engage a corresponding face of aco-acting knuckle in a companion coupler head, and the knuckle is alsoprovided with a rear curved face adapted to engage a curved lateral faceof the recess of a companion head and thereby guide the knuckles intolocking engagement as they approach the coupled position, means beingprovided to lock the knuckles when in coupled position. With aconstruction of this character, it has been found that the heads aresometimes liable to uncouple, should unusual or severe side or lateralstrains occur.

It is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide meansfor preventing side or lateral movement of the coupler heads when in thecoupled position.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is an elevational view of theimproved automatic car coupler, shown in the coupled position; Fig. 2 acentral sectional view there of; Fig. 3 an end view of one of thecoupler heads; Fig. 4 a central sectional view of one coupler headshowing a slightly modified construction, and Fig. 5 an end view of thesame.

The coupler, so far as it is similar to the construction shown in theabove mentioned application, comprises a coupler head 1, having a recessor c amber 2, containing a piv- (Jopics of thin patent oted knuckle 3,having an offset engaging face 6 and a rear curved face 4, adapted toengage the curved inner face 5 of the recess, as two heads approach, andthereby cause the corresponding surfaces 6 of the knuckles 3 to engage.The knuckles are then looked in position by the locking pins 7, whichare adapted to drop between a rear face 10 of the knuckle and the curvedface 5 of the recess in the head.

According to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, toprevent lateral movement of the heads, I provide central projectingflanges 8 on one side, and outer guide flanges 9, on the other side, andthe flange 8 may be tapered outwardly, so that as the heads approach,the flanges 8 are guided into position between the flanges 9, and whenin coupled position lateral movement is then prevented by the flanges 8.The flanges 8 may also be flared, so as to assist in gathering orcentering the parts, as they come together;

The coupler may be constructed as shown in Figs. 4 to 5, in which theouter flanges are dispensed with, and a single flange 12 on one side ofthe head is adapted to engage the companion head and prevent sidemovement similar to the first described construction.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:--

A coupler head comprising a casting having guide members and a centralrigid lateral rejection adapted to engage the guide mom ers of acounterpart coupling head in the act of coupling, a shoulder formed insaid projection, and a flange on the casting for engaging the shoulderof the counterpart coupling in the coupled position, to prevent lateralmovment.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MORRIS W'UERPEL.

Witnesses:

H. H. THOMAS, G. Essor.

may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner ofPatents,

Washington, D. O."

